Frequently Asked Questions About Preservice Caseworker Academy (PCA)

PCA has been intentionally designed with input from stakeholders across the state to not only provide the knowledge new caseworkers need to practice child welfare, but also to set caseworkers up to succeed on the job far beyond their first year of initial certification. In-person learning experiences, discussion in class about county observations, and an individualized meeting with the supervisor at the conclusion of PCA allow new caseworkers to make meaningful and supportive connections with other workers and their county colleagues. In-person experiences will also allow time for foundational skills building, practice, and assessment to equip new caseworkers to work with families. Brief WBT modules, scheduled to be completed weekly, free up face-to-face time for practice, county observation, and transfer of learning activities. Check-ins ensure that learning points are maintained week to week and that clarification can happen early and often. Flex seminars allow learners to schedule some components of the course when it works for them and to connect with learners in other cohorts. This new model provides robust learner assessment opportunities through on-going skills practice and observation, competency driven post-tests, and a Learner Portfolio review conducted jointly by the facilitator and supervisor. It is supported by a dynamic competency framework that clearly differentiates Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs), enabling targeted development, meaningful feedback, and continuous growth throughout the learning journey.

There are four seminars in PCA that will be facilitated in person: the first two cohort seminars and two flex seminars (Court and Interviewing and Communication Skills). Learners will spend 9 days in in-person learning. The remaining seminars are virtually facilitated for a total of 5.5 days plus 10 hours of virtual check-ins between seminars. Learners must also complete 15 cohort web-based trainings that vary in length from 15 minutes to an hour, and two flex web-based trainings for a total of 3 hours. In total time for learning, about half of PCA is in person and half is virtual.

PCA is an 8-week course that combines cohort learning (learners maintain the same peer group throughout the 8 weeks) with flex seminars that can be taken by learners at their convenience in Weeks 2 and later (with learners across any cohort). In addition to the PCA coursework, learners must also complete TOLs prior to seeking initial certification, which will be scheduled and supervised by the county.

1. Create a new learner profile (or account) in the LMS. Use your work email address if you have it, as you will be required to update it later. (See Create a New Account;
   supervisors, see Create a New Account for Staff.)
2. Registration is a two-step process. First, enroll in and complete 1 Getting Started with Preservice Caseworker Academy.
   Once that is complete, you will be directed to the next step, 2 Preservice Caseworker Academy, to register for a cohort.
   Please refer to the step-by-step tutorial Register for a PCA Cohort.
3. When you are ready to register for the flex seminars or to find the flex WBTs, see the tutorials Register for PCA Flex Seminars and Find and Complete a PCA Flex WBT.

If you are unsure about which cohort or flex seminar offering to join (for example, the upcoming session isn’t in your area, you are unable to travel as far as the next available session, or the next dates in your area are months away), check in with your supervisor.

If you have already registered in the LMS, please go to https://learning.coloradocwts.com/mod/iledt/view.php?id=32718. You should also receive an email with your Cohort Schedule after completing your first survey via Qualtrics.

Please email us at support@coloradocwts.com and provide your name, the cohort you are registered in, the cohort you would like to switch to, your supervisor’s name, and their email address.

There is no simulation in the Preservice Caseworker Academy. Learners will engage in skill-building activities in every seminar. Learners will be assessed during their skill observation and practice time in Cohort Seminars 2 and 3 and those results will be shared with the learner and supervisor during the Learner Portfolio Review Meeting in Week 8.

Please see the Attendance and Weather policy for details.

Please see the Attendance and Weather policy for details. Email the facilitator and your supervisor for any absence.

All components of PCA must be completed, but certain components may be completed flexibly (flex seminars, flex WBTs, and TOLs). Please see this New Caseworker Checklist for requirements.

If you are seeking only hotline worker certification and do not need caseworker certification, you should register for the hotline certification courses. Currently you are required to complete the web-based training Welcome to Colorado Child Welfare, the two-day hybrid course Hotline and RED Team, and the web-based training Mandatory Reporter Training. In spring 2027, a new hotline worker academy will be launched.

TOL requirements that must be completed before seeking initial certification remain the same. The TOL activities can be completed throughout or immediately after the time when the worker is engaged in the academy. Unchanged since they were approved in 2022, there are 15 TOL activities. Eleven (11) of the TOL activities are required and four (4) of the TOL activities are optional. This designation is made on the TOL Activity Checklist and on the TOL activity worksheets. Each county has their own onboarding process with new caseworkers, so although we make suggestions regarding timing for TOL activities, we recognize that each county will dictate their own schedule and plan for completing TOL activities. Please refer to the Transfer of Learning Guide and Request for Caseworker Initial Certification for details. The Training Steering Committee will be reviewing the TOLs in 2027 for potential changes.

We are continuing to roll out updates on our website and a memo from DCW will be released soon. Visit the website often to learn more: NEW! Preservice Caseworker Academy Overview and consider joining one of our scheduled PCA Overview sessions in October or November.